Sacrifice Without the Temple
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NASB
Good Works – It seems reasonable to suggest that Yeshua anticipated the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. It’s hard to read his teaching in Matthew 24 and not conclude that he saw a time when the Temple would no longer be the center of the sacrificial system. When the Temple fell, Judaism had to rethink one of its fundamental elements—Temple sacrifice. Neusner comments, “When the Temple of Jerusalem stood, sacrifice served as the medium of atonement for sin, just as Scripture insists, and, when the Temple was destroyed, deeds of loving kindness took the place of sacrifice.”[1] This comment and the statement of Yeshua in Matthew 5 help us solve a riddle about practicing faithfulness today. Today there is no Temple. Today we must express our worship of God without the daily sacrifices. Yes, I know that Paul points toward the temple within, but we must still deal with the external obligation. Yeshua not only anticipates a time when there is no Temple, he also sees that there is an appropriate substitute for Temple worship in the absence of the holy place. Yeshua calls this substitute “good works.” Neusner clarifies the idiom by using the English expression “loving kindness.” Both of these English expressions point us toward the same Hebrew word, hesed.
You thought that “good works” meant acting with benevolence toward someone else, or picking up litter on the street, or putting extra into the offering, or giving someone a comforting hug. You thought that “good works” were words that describe your cultural understanding of the terms. You forgot that Yeshua spoke Hebrew in the first century. That’s where Neusner helps. He uses the English “loving kindness.” That takes us right to the English translation of hesed. Hesed is the substitute for Temple sacrifice. But then hesed has always been the alternative to Temple worship. In fact, before there ever was a Temple, hesed was exactly the way the world recognized those who belonged to God.
The Greek text reads kalos ergon (beautiful-good works). This translates the words but not the idiom. The Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels uses the Hebrew expression ma’asekem hatovim (the good works). But I believe that Neusner’s expression, loving kindness, is better since it covers more than charity. Fulfilling the obligations of hesed is the essence of worship. It was the essence of worship for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was the essence of worship for David. And in the absence of the Temple, it is the same for us. Certainly Paul would say so. Obedience is at the heart of worship.
So write that check to charity. It’s a good thing. But don’t think that charity is the end of the story. Obedience has always been better than sacrifice and without the Temple, it is the way men know who belongs. Do hesed and you will worship at the Temple.
Topical Index: good works, kalos ergon, ma’asekem hatovim, hesed, Matthew 5:16
[1] Jacob Neusner, Judaism When Christianity Began, p. 147.
Hesed is a heart condition.
The heart is where I choose, so therefore the heart is the only ‘place’ I have to meet the present. The head (thoughts in the brain) is downstream of what I believe and choose, and the body awaits instructions from the head. True, my eyes have living brain tissue on the surface, and technically, through vision, I can touch the present, EXCEPT that what I see still has to go through the command and control centers, so by the time I perceive what I see, it is already in the past, even if it is the split second past. The only way I can be in the present – which is the only place where the Presence can also be found, then – is if I am allowing my heart to lead the way. If I am repressing consciousness of my motivations (belief systems that drive my behavior), or if I am avoiding vulnerability (humility of acceptance of the present), or if I am avoiding my emotions (which are my alert systems and my shortcut access to what is happening in the present), or if I am HATING myself, I am not going to be allowing my heart to come along with me today.
Come to think of it, self hatred is the most consistent way to make sure I never show up in the temple of my heart -where the holy ground is – except to throw stones, of course. Paul writes about those who “oppose themselves”, and self hatred (which would include generational self hatred) can also manifest in certain autoimmune diseases, where the body no longer recognizes its own self, and attacks. I have seen evidence that suggests that autoimmune reactions can start to show up in the genetic expression after generations of self hatred have been practiced, and insanity has self opposition at its very core. Hesed starts at home. Self hatred is idolatry, for it calls heaven a liar when YHVH has decreed that I am “very good”, but I want to argue. I must humble up and agree that I am worthy of love before I can accept His love for me, much less afford to see others in the same light.
I think people who avoid their hearts are profane, reactive people, always one step behind reality; always outside the holy place of the present – the only place where true choice (freedom) can occur – and also the only place where the Presence of the Shekinah may be found. Lovingkindness is where I am showing up in the place in my spirit (heart) where I can communicate with the Holy Spirit, and agreeing with (yoking with) heaven, thus allowing heaven to express itself through me.
As a “followup” to “Today’s Word,” I highly recommend a “re-read” or review of Ephesians chapter 2.
Let all things be done decently and in order: 1. by grace (it is the gift of God) 2. through faith (Abraham believed God and it was counted or imputed to him for righteousness. 3. unto good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. (Love must be demonstrated!! – a “show me’ kind of faith!
All the false religions of the world are deceived descendants of Cain. But it was Abel’s blood-sacrifice that was pleasing unto Elohim. “NOT by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy (chesed).”
Ours is not a religion of “DO,” but of “DONE.” Friend, “it is finished.” Paid in full. The crucified, buried and resurrected Son of God (God the son) paid it all.
Ahh, but it is far from “done!” Now, because I do belong to the One who (both) sought me and bought me by His redeeming blood, now that I belong to Him, now that I have the LIght of HIs presence dwelling within me always, I must let my light shine, (it is Christ who is the Light of life that lives in me) and demonstrate (yes) by my good works, I belong to Him.
~ So that in the coming ages He might display the limitless riches of His grace that comes to us through His kindness [lovingkindness? chesed] in the Messiah Jesus ~ Yes, it certainly is. Amazing grace!